Officials Grilled Over Tourism Fraud

Published: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 6:59 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 6:59 a.m.

Florida lawmakers have grilled Okaloosa County officials over how their tourism director was able to spend more than $1.4 million in public funds on a personal home, yacht and other luxury items.

The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee on Monday also ordered the state auditor general's office to conduct an audit of county agencies in connection with the misspent tourism money that came from tourist development taxes and a BP oil spill grant.

<p>Florida lawmakers have grilled Okaloosa County officials over how their tourism director was able to spend more than $1.4 million in public funds on a personal home, yacht and other luxury items. </p><p>The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee on Monday also ordered the state auditor general's office to conduct an audit of county agencies in connection with the misspent tourism money that came from tourist development taxes and a BP oil spill grant. </p><p>The tourism director, Mark Bellinger, committed suicide last May.</p>